Folding leg structure



March 14, 1967 R. SEFCIK 3,309,055

FOLDING LEG STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J ROBERT SEFCI K JOHN P. CHANDLER HIS ATTORNEY.

March 14, 1967 R. SEFCIK 3,309,055

FOLDING LEG STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT SEFCiK I8 BY JOHN P. CHANDLER HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,309,055 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,309,055 FOLDING LEG STRUCTURE Robert Sefcik, Cherry Hill, N.J., assignor to J. Chein & Company, Burlington, NJ. Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 529,099 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-431) This invention relates to folding leg structures for table tops and the like and relates more particularly to a novel plural leg structures with resilient or flexible interconnecting means between the upper and lower ends thereof which permit the legs to be moved to a generally parallel position when in non-table top supporting position and which allows the legs to be instantly moved to an angular position and which are provided with novel means for engaging the rim of the table top or other supported structure for a musical instrument like a drum.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper ends of the legs are provided with means for quick interlock with and detachment from a supported member and when freed from such connection they return to their generally parallel position as a result of the resilient connecting element which has a plurality of sockets with through openings, one for each tubular leg. When the resilient leg-connecting element is at rest, the through openings are generally parallel but when the legs enclosed thereby are moved to a non-parallel position they assume the configuration of a double tripod with end-to-end apices. The sockets are interconnected by means of flat webs which are either vertical or horizontal. The sockets and connecting webs are preferably formed integrally, i.e., in one piece and when the socket is twisted to affect the tripod position the webs are under an bending stress and securely hold the legs in tabe top supporting position.

This arrangement is much more steady and secure than linkage structure or pivotal elements and it also adopts itself to telescopic legs wherein the resilient sockets exert a slight compression action on the tubular metal legs.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-leg supporting structure of the present invention and showing the legs in parallel array;

FIG. 2 shows the leg connecting means;

FIG. 3 shows a modified leg connecting means;

FIG. 4 shows the arrangement for extensible legs;

FIG. 5 shows the legs in table top supporting position.

The resilient leg connecting structure 11 of the present invention includes a plurality of sockets 11 having through openings 12 and the sockets, usually three in number, are connected by webs 14 and the entire structure may be molded or otherwise formed in one piece from rubber or like material. The tubular legs 16 may have caps 18 at their lower ends and at their upper ends they receive a fitting 19 having an opening 20 with opposed curved surface 21 leading to the opening and which receives a downwardly extending flange (not shown) formed on the article being supported.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the webs 14 normally hold the sockets and legs in a position parallel with the major axis of the connecting structure. When each of the sockets are twisted relating to this axis they assume the configuration shown in FIG. 5 and seek to regain the position of FIG. 1.

In the arrangement of FIG. 2, the webs 14 are horizontal and in FIG. 3 these webs 14" do not have a common center but extend from socket to socket in triangular configuration.

FIG. 4 shows the leg connecting structure modified to receive telescopic leg elements wherein the upper leg section 23 is received in a bore 24 in socket 25 and a counterbore 26 receives the lower leg section 27 of larger diameter than the upper section. Twisting the legs and webs from the position of FIG. 4 to the diverging position of FIG. 5 is accomplished in the same fashion.

For the leg connecting means, natural rubber as synthetic rubber such as neoprene can be used, as well as various synthetic plastics having desired means of resiliency and flexibility such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

The term table top or used herein and in the appended claim is deemed to include anything that is normally supported on the floor by means of legs.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting leg structure for a table top or the like and including a plurality of tubular legs and resilient legconnecting means for joining the legs intermediate their ends and retaining the same in generally parallel relation when in non-top-supporting position and for twisting the legs under a bending stress to a double tripod position while the upper ends are supporting said top, said means including a plurality of sockets, one for each leg, with through bores receiving the legs, and webs connecting said sockets and normally retaining the legs in said parallel relation.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the webs are vertical and meet at the center.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the webs are vertical and extend between the sockets.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the webs are horizontal.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein the leg connecting means is formed from a single piece of resilient material.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein the legs are telescopic and the bores are formed with counterbore for receiving the larger diameter leg section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,477,233 12/1923 Alexander 248- X 2,749,147 6/ 1956 Herrschaft 248-431 2,902,821 9/1959 Kelly 59-80 FOREIGN PATENTS 192,827 12/ 1907 Germany.

348,009 1/ 1922 Germany. 1,003,303 2/ 1957 Germany.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORTING LEG STRUCTURE FOR A TABLE TOP OR THE LIKE AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF TUBULAR LEGS AND RESILIENT LEGCONNECTING MEANS FOR JOINING THE LEGS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS AND RETAINING THE SAME IN GENERALLY PARALLEL RELATION WHEN IN NON-TOP-SUPPORTING POSITION AND FOR TWISTING THE LEGS UNDER A BENDING STRESS TO A DOUBLE TRIPOD POSITION WHILE THE UPPER ENDS ARE SUPPORTING SAID TOP, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SOCKETS, ONE FOR EACH LEG, WITH THROUGH BORES RECEIVING THE LEGS, AND WEBS CONNECTING SAID SOCKETS AND NORMALLY RETAINING THE LEGS IN SAID PARALLEL RELATION. 